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KUSHIDA has left the WWE, first reported by Fightful

By Raphael Garcia

TOKYO, JAPAN - JANUARY 04: KUSHIDA enters the ring prior to the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship match between KUSHIDA and Taiji Ishimori during Wrestle Kingdom 13 of New Japan Pro-Wrestling at Tokyo Dome on January 4, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)
TOKYO, JAPAN - JANUARY 04: KUSHIDA enters the ring prior to the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship match between KUSHIDA and Taiji Ishimori during Wrestle Kingdom 13 of New Japan Pro-Wrestling at Tokyo Dome on January 4, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Etsuo Hara/Getty Images) /
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Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful reported on Monday that KUSHIDA has left the WWE. The initial report did not state whether he was released or cut from the company, however an update provided that initial indications are that his deal expired. There is no word currently on if an offer was extended to stay with the company.

Kushida joined the WWE in 2019, moving right to the WWE NXT brand. Throughout his time with the company, he was never utilized in a fashion that mirrored the success that he saw in previous companies earlier in his career.

Kushida did win the WWE NXT Cruiserweight Championship in 2021, holding that belt for 161 days. Before that, he and Johnny Gargano were embroiled in a feud in early 2021 that included some of the best matches in the WWE that year.

Once the rebrand of NXT to NXT 2.0 was complete, it was clear that Kushida’s place in the company would be even further diminished. He was paired with Ikemen Jiro and the two would form the tag team, Jacket Time, but again that duo never found any footing that led to a sustained push. Kushida was further utilized on NXT 205 Live and its eventual replacement, NXT Level Up.

He last appeared in a match against Edris Enofe and Malik Blade on March 22.

Prior to his run in the WWE, Kushida was considered one of the best performers in the industry. He is a multiple-time champion, holding belts in both Ring of Honor and New Japan. His technical abilities were put on display with matches against the likes of Hiromu Takahashi, Jay White, and Taiji Ishimori. He and Alex Shelley also found success as the tag team, the Time Splitters. Together they won the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Titles on two occasions.

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